China’s New Adoption Policy Leaves Children in the Balance

On September 4, the US state department informed adoption service providers and waiting families that the People’s Republic of China (PRC), would “no longer carry out foreign adoption work,” except in a few narrow cases. Several hundred American families have been matched with children in China. Many families were scheduled to bring their children home in January 2020, the same month that China closed down due to its zero-COVID policy and have been waiting for over four and a half years... Read More

The Acceptance Stage of Lost Evangelical Influence

American Christianity is in cultural and political decline. In 1937, 70 percent of Americans reported that they belonged to a church. These numbers held relatively steady through much of the 20th century. But in the past 25 years, an estimated 40 million Americans have stopped attending church. As Ernest Hemingway said, bankruptcy comes gradually and then suddenly. The American public square, previously white and Protestant, is quickly becoming a pluralistic bazaar of diverse cultures,... Read More

I Had a Horrific Childhood. I’m Glad I Exist.

It is midnight, and my phone is ringing. Blinking the sleep out of my eyes, I roll over to see my older sister’s name flashing across the screen. “Hello?” My sister says nothing at first. She is crying. The sound jolts me awake. “Are you okay?” I ask. Finally, she speaks: “I killed my baby.” Shock lodges itself in my throat. My sister’s pain is suddenly in my chest, crushing my heart against my rib cage. I scramble down the bunk bed ladder, my feet slipping on the rungs, and... Read More

Joseph and the Unintended Authoritarian Politics

As an Old Testament scholar, I’ve been spending much of my time writing a commentary on Exodus. And as I worked through the first chapter, considering the predicament of the enslaved Hebrews in Egypt, it hit me: The exploitation of the Israelites was made possible by the drastic administrative policies Joseph implemented during the years of famine. The descendants of Jacob had arrived in Egypt under the (somewhat) mutually beneficial arrangements Joseph had made with the support of the... Read More

Today in History: September 10, Clarence Thomas’ Supreme Court nomination hearings begin

Today is Tuesday, Sept. 10, the 254th day of 2024. There are 112 days left in the year. Today in history: On Sept. 10, 1991, the Senate Judiciary Committee opened hearings on the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court. The proceedings would become a watershed moment in the discussion of sexual harassment when Anita Hill, a law professor who had previously worked under Thomas, came forward with allegations against him. Also on this date: In 1608, John Smith was elected... Read More

Rookie Paul Skenes strikes out nine as Pirates edge Marlins

PITTSBURGH — Paul Skenes struck out nine over six solid innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates edged the Miami Marlins 3-2 on Monday night. The 22-year-old Skenes (10-2) allowed one run on six hits, lowering his ERA to 2.10. Skenes also boosted his season strikeout total to 151, a Pirates rookie record, while winning his fourth straight decision. The 6-foot-6 right-hander’s fastball hit 100 mph six times while becoming just the fourth rookie ever to reach 150 strikeouts in 20 starts or less,... Read More

Jailed Harvey Weinstein taken to NYC hospital for emergency heart surgery, his representatives say

By MICHAEL R. SISAK NEW YORK (AP) — Jailed ex-movie mogul Harvey Weinstein underwent emergency heart surgery at a New York City hospital on Monday, his representatives said. Weinstein, 72, was taken to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan from the Rikers Island jail complex late Sunday “due to severe medical conditions,” his publicist Juda Engelmayer and prison consultant Craig Rothfeld said. “We can confirm that Mr. Weinstein had a procedure and surgery on his heart today,” they said,... Read More

Big Lots files for bankruptcy protection. Will more store closures follow?

Discount retailer Big Lots announced on Monday that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.The filing will result in more store closures beyond the 315 announced in early August, the company revealed in a statement posted on its website.The August announcement affected 26 of 106 Big Lots stores in Florida, including 10 of 17 Originally Published: September 9, 2024 at 1:03 p.m. ... Read More

Dolphins’ Jordan Poyer gets first shot at Bills on Thursday after flipping sides in AFC East rivalry

As the Miami Dolphins have lost 11 of their last 12 in the AFC East rivalry with the Buffalo Bills, veteran safety Jordan Poyer has always been on the Bills side of it. Flipping division rivals this offseason, Poyer gets his first shot at Buffalo since leaving western New York for South Florida in hopes of turning fortunes in the Dolphins’ favor. Miami hosts Buffalo in a Thursday night kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium. “I’m excited to play this week,” Poyer said on a Monday web... Read More